A DISPUTE over who should repair a crooked footpath in Malvern has been resolved.

As previously reported in your Malvern Gazette, pensioner Tony Walker, who lives in Duke of Edinburgh Way, contacted both Worcestershire County Council and Festival Housing about the state of the path outside his home.

The 83-year-old feared someone would be badly hurt tripping over huge gaps which had appeared in the pavement caused by the slabs slipping down a nearby grass bank.

But his bid to get the problem fixed hit a stalemate when both organisations said the other was responsible for carrying out the works.

Repairs have now been carried out on the path after it was established the footpath was a public highway and therefore the responsibility of the council.

Jon Fraser, Worcestershire County Council's customer and community manager, said: “We have now completed our research regarding ownership of the footpaths in Duke of Edinburgh Way and are pleased to confirm that these are now recorded as public highway.

“This conclusion is welcomed as it means that all future maintenance will be carried out by the highway authority. We have already carried out works to repair defects on the footway and will ensure that this area is included in our future inspection regime.”

Mr Walker said he was pleased the issue had been resolved and was satisfied by the repairs that had been carried out.